Importance of the Thymus in Immunity.

The thymus is essential to the maturation of the immune system, it contributes to the development of T lymprocytes, guard cells that participate in the immunoreactions.  unfortunately, the thymus atrophies with age, and the production of defence cells gradually decline, making human beings more vulnerable to various diseases.

Thymus : An Essental Gland of the immune System
The thymus is essental to the maturation and maintenance of the cells of the immune system. It experts its influence by liberating hormaonal factors that act inside the thymus itself as well as elsewhere in the body. Blood concentrations of tnese thymic factors reach their maximal value at puberty, and gradually decline afterwards. immune systeme deficiencies observed in old people and in several diseases are linked in good part to the abnormally low level of the thymic factors.

The immune system's function is to protect the body against parasitic infections (viruses, bacteria, fungi, microbes, etc.) that cause incasive and sometimes fatal diseases. the immune system uses, among other things, the lymphocytes. Many types of lymphocytes participate to the immune response (Figure 1).

Lymphocytes participate to the immune response. (click on thumbnail to enlarge)

For example, during a parasitic infection, the lymphocytes called macrophages phagocytize the parasites and break them up into fragments which are then exposed at the surface of the said macrophage and presented to the imminoregulator T lymphocytes. Those T lymphocytes activate and release messenger substances (cytokines) that increase the immune response and stimulate the roduction of antibodies by B lymphocytes. Other types of T lymphocytes have a direct cytotoxic action on cells presenting parastes fragments, thus completing the immune response.

At birth, the child benefits from the lymphocytes passed on to him by his mother, which protect from infections. He must quickly start to produce his own lymphocytes, which will mostly oroginate from bone marow and thymus. A thymic deficiency in the newborn will result in lack of T lymphocytes and in the quick appearance of phusiolgical complications that will translate into slowed growth rate of repetitive infections, and possibly lead to premature death.

Maturation of T Lymphocytes : An Important Event in the Immune Response
The maturation and proliferation of T lymphocytes are regulated by factors produced and released by the thymus and the lymphocytes themselves. A large number of distinct factors are necessary to maintain a balanced production between the various types of the T lymphocytes; these factors include almost all interleukins, thymosins, thymopoietin, thymic humoral factor, thymus factor X, serum thymic factor, as well as other thymic factors not as well charaxterized. these serum factors have a direct effect on the maturation and differentiation of the various types of T lymphocytes.

The lymphocytes of the thymus are multipotental cells, which means they can undergo several differentiation pathways to ultimately become fonctionnal T lymphocytes (Figure 2). Those T lymphocytes include the effector (cytotoxic cells) and immunoregulator (auxiliary cells, suppressive cells) lymphocytes. When a T lymphocyte is activated by a parasite, it commits itself and becomes specific to this parasite, which will thereafter be the only activator of this sensitized lymphocyte. The commited T lymphocyte stay vigilant for the res of its lifrl its survival depends on the presence of thymic factors. in a way, the committed T lymphocytes constitute a major constituent of the immune memory, alllowing the body to quickly react when exposed again to the parasite.

Involution of the thymus During Aging Sensitivity to Infections
The thymic gland is located at the base of the neck. In humans, it continues to develop after birth, and reaches its maximal size at puberty (approximatively 60 g). Both lobes of the thymus are divided into lobules, which contain a cortex and a medulla. The cortex is composed almost essentially of lymphocytes, that are the actual defence cells, while the medulla is mostly made of epithelial cells with a few scattered lymphocytes. The epithelial cells of thymus produce most of the thymic factors necessary for the maturation and maintenance of the immune cells.

During aging, the thymus gradually decreases in size and activity (Figure 3). Its weight decreases by 2/3 and its lymphocyte content by 90%. Cell death occuring in the tissue is not caused by the disappearance of any essential substance; in fact, this involutional phase is still not well understood, and it is believed to be a natural, genetically programmed phenomenon.

The serum concentrations of thymic hormones also decrease after puberty and reach their lowest value at age 60 and on. This decrease clearly shows the deterioation of the immune system's competence observe in old people.

Conclusion
The thymus is an essential organ of the immune system. In the adult, its functions are to produce mature lymphocytes and to maintain the health of the surveillance lymphocytes that circulate in the body and stay alert in order to quickly defend the body against a parasitic intrusion.  Thymic factor deficiencies; infections are then more difficult to fight, and they gradually drain the vital energy of the infected individual.

Glossary
Phagocytize (to) : To engulf a microbe in order to digest it.
Cytotoxic : That which destroys the cell.

Copyright ^© 2000-2008